This archive report was first published on 11 October 2019.
On October 12, 2019, the world watched with bated breath as Eliud Kipchoge, a Kenyan marathon runner, prepared to take on the impossible in Vienna, Austria. His goal: to run 42km in under 1 hour and 59 minutes, a feat that would rewrite the record books.
The stage was set at the storied Austria's Vienna Park, The Prater, Hauptalee, a location steeped in running history. It was here that Henry Rono, a Kenyan athlete, had set the 10,000-meter world record in 1978, with the help of Dutchman Jos Hermens, who would later become Kipchoge's manager.
At a pre-race press conference, Kipchoge exuded confidence, assuring the world that he was fit and ready to deliver a message of hope and resilience. He emphasized the importance of staying calm under pressure, saying, "Pressure is everywhere, and I'm trying to stay as calm as possible. This race means a lot. I just have to make that click in people's minds that no human is limited."
With a team of 41 pacemakers, Kipchoge would need to maintain a blistering pace of 100m in 17.08 seconds consistently for the entire race. To put this into perspective, Usain Bolt's record time for the 100m dash was 9.54 seconds. Kipchoge's body would be pushed to its limits, with every tissue and vital organ stretched to the maximum.
According to Gerald Lwande, a Biomedical Scientist at Precise Genomics Laboratories, Kipchoge's body would be able to handle the rigors of the exercise. "I strongly believe his body will handle the rigours of the exercise," Lwande said. "In Monza, Italy, Eliud achieved a time of 2 hours and 25 seconds. It is believed that with improved shoe, hydration, course modification and other technologies; Eliud will run below two hours (1 hour 59 minutes) without any adverse physiological outcome."
